A cold case is an unsolved criminal investigation—typically involving serious crimes like murder, abduction, or missing persons—that remains open because new evidence, leads, or witnesses have not surfaced for an extended period of time. Despite extensive investigation efforts, these cases eventually grow “cold” when there are no significant breakthroughs or avenues left to pursue.
Cold cases can remain inactive for years or even decades, but they can be reopened if new information, such as advances in forensic technology (e.g., DNA analysis) or fresh tips, emerges. Many law enforcement agencies have special cold case units dedicated to re-examining old cases in hopes of solving them. Although this is morbid, I just want to note, for the purposes of this site, cold cases will be any case where the body was found but not solved. Anybody missing will be listed on the The Missing page.
